CAS Snowman Card (PS SPARKS, Jingle Belles, and Merry Monday)

Hi friends! Stopping in on this HOT summer day with a COOL Christmas card for ya! I am multitasking, and managed to hit 3 challenges with this one! This is for the following challenges: Paper Smooches SPARKS, which uses the following sketch:

It's also for Jingle Belles, the challenge is "Cardstock Christmas" using NO designer/patterned papers, just solid cardstock, on your project. Here's a few words about it from those Jingle Belles, Stef and Lauren: 

"Today we're asking you to step away from the designer paper ... yes, put it away ... none allowed ... not even a scrap ... because the next prompt is to create a card using only cardstock.  You can tear it, ink it, stamp it, spray it, emboss it ... but stick to only cardstock for your holiday card design."

It is also for the Merry Monday "Anything Goes" challenge. This one is up through July, so if you make any new Christmas cards, link up! Here's the graphic/info:

I had to think on this one a bit, since patterned paper is such a "go-to" design tool for me, and I was trying to follow the sketch. I decided to make a relatively CAS card, though I did incorporate the following techniques for interest: heat embossing, chalk resist, glitter/Stickles, and paper piecing. 

I began by heat embossing some snow on the base of the card (color: Pool Party/Stampin' Up!). I used a glittery/clear embossing powder and VersaMark ink. Then I stamped my sentiment, and my snowman for his first layer. I cut and tore the vellum and used a vellum adhesive to adhere it  to the card, and over the sentiment (and half my snowman). 

Onto the snowman: I stamped the houndstooth background stamp onto white cardstock, and the snowman stamp over it in black. I used some chalk to bring out the houdstooth pattern in a subltle way on this chilly little guy. then I colored his nose, cut him out and layered him right over the first snowman I had stamped on the card. 

I added some Diamond Stickles to the edge of the vellum, and to his heart. The only bummer with this, is that my vellum did wrinkle. :( 

Now, at this point the card could have been done (I guess, but what fun would that be?? haha!) I just felt it needed something at the top to balance out all the vellum overlay/chalk resist/paper pieced/Stickled/heat embossed goodness going on at the bottom, KWIM? ;) So, I added some pom pom trim in pale blue and a snowflake flair from Bossy Joscie. And then I could breathe again, because I knew my card was *really* done this time. :)

and that is all for this crafty chick today, friends! Peace, Love, and.. stay cool out there, people-it's HOT! 

xoxo, Noelle